autumn, i love you

We took off for the country a few weeks ago and had a beautiful time. Apples, pumpkins, leaves, horses and a few other surprises. Can you see the little cat peeing out from behind the wood pile? Thanks, Autumn.

Marathon #7

When I decided to run my first marathon, ten years ago - I never imagined there would be a second - much less SEVEN. I have fallen in love with the marathon - no doubt there will be more! Here are a few shots of last weekends thon. It was a beautiful day, a tough run, and I would do it again tomorrow if I wasn't so $^&# sore. Hats off to marathoners everywhere, it takes a certain person to love that stuff.

baby animal portraits

Adorable, right? I want one (or a few) Little Darlings by Sharron Montrose. See the collection here.

Kate Spade : blog

At work, I get asked all the time to make things "cooler, maybe.... bigger". Its a way of saying - more of everything, I'm bored. This Spade blog is all that.... more photos, more interactive, more articles, videos... etc. Always on the bleeding edge, those guys. Just found it this morning, and will be hanging out here for a while.

Its very headline/magazine styled... and remember that book I once (and still) love-d?

State Fair season

Missed the VA State Fair this year - including my beloved Demolition Derby. Sad, but I was bust throwing the cutest baby shower ever (photos to come soon!) Found this photo on my[confined]space and HAD to post. Adorable.

cats looking cute

Ajax & Miata

just discovered: Classified Moto

Never have I seen a more beautiful motorcycle.... the repurposed parts are killing me. AND.... these guys make lamps. What? AND... they're in Richmond! Classified Moto.

SAXTON

Carrington. My new fav.

NASCAR, RVA

After 5 years living in Richmond, we hit up our first race last night! It was UNREAL, I loved it! Jimmie Johnson wasn't driving like he shoulda been, maybe I was a distraction. We woke up this morning smelling like burnt rubber and motor oil. Already looking forward to the next one!

Good-bye, beach 2011

We spent last week in the OBX w/ my fam, the annual 2011 Beach week vacation. Is it just us, or is leaving the beach a heartbreaker for everyone?

feedback

For all those "Why didn't you tell me this BEFORE?" moments. Feedback helps. Check in early and often. Slide pulled from a lecture on UX design in an agile environment given by Jeff Gothelf, the UX director at Ladders. (also in the business of helping people find jobs and make money.)

dear men, listen up.

This could be you.

 Want to have a great weekend? The perfect vacation? An amazing "date night"? Check out Danielle's fantastic advice on giving women the perfect gift. My husband gave me the PERFECT Christmas gift last year, and I was SHOCKED. When I asked him HOW HE KNEW... he told me that the gift had been recommended to him by one of my girlfriends. She remembered me gushing over this calendar, and passed that along to ol' hubby. BRILLIANT. Nail it every time, no guess work. Ask her girlfriends what she wants.

Lesson learned: A faint-hearted knight never won the hand of a fair maiden.

Reiko

Beautiful ceramic work from Reiko Kaneko, a Japanese/British artist popping up everywhere. I love the gold lipstick mark! Her advice to artists:

top five favourite pieces of advice for young artists & designers:
 
1. I find the more I learn, I realize how little I know, so my first piece of advice is to always keep trying, experimenting, and learning.

2. Use all the tools available to you -- for instance, YouTube and google are great senseis, or teachers -- don’t underestimate them!

3. Rome wasn't built in a day, so be faithful to your dreams.

4. Live every day as if it's your last, but also live as if you'll be alive for a very long time.
5. Above all, enjoy everything you do -- a lot!

via {this is glamourous}

Mad Men

Mad Men is now streaming on Netflix and I wish I had the time to sit on down and watch every episode over again. Do you ever wish for the flu, just so you could indulge in a few days on the couch? (Careful what you wish for, Bridge.) Image from Jay Roeder('s slow ass site).

"The reason you haven’t felt it is because it doesn’t exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You’re born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I’m living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one." - Don Draper

how to dress at the beach ; )

 So funny! Remember, folks - keep your clothes on at the beach. Via Color me Katie. (awesome blog, spend some time there!)

One year married.

I now understand why people love to celebrate their anniversaries. Its so romantic to re-live the wedding vibe. So comforting to remember the friends and family that helped you celebrate. So fun to go out on the town and throw down for the hell of it. Jeff and I just celebrated our FIRST anniversary... we had a fantastic go, first time out. Dinner at Conch Republic, ice cream at Sweet Frog, drinks at Can Can. Yea, #2, bring it.

sweet virginia

I don't often brag about Virginia, but here it comes. Summer in VA is simply the finest. Despite the heat and humidity, I find summer here to be hands down beautiful - I wouldn't rather be anywhere else. Stick close to water, bring a cooler, and you've got it made. We've got the cicadas in full song, hazy heavy mornings, slow weekends, beautiful music. We swim, fish, run & play with the best of them. Come visit me, you'll know what I mean.

yup, ya'll noticed?

Have you noticed that its been a looooong time since I posted anything here? Well... that new job I was talking about? Owns me. More like the 40 hours work week owns me. Plus... the marathon training, the letterpress teaching, the fun having and the summer lovin. So, don't hate, just bare with... that is, if you're still there. We all know about glaciers, 99% is not visible above the water line. Just like this blog. 99% of this mind happens offline, but I'm still here. (photo credit  and more amazing over/under shots)

awesome project: a year in review

What a cool idea! From Amanda Jane Jones.  I could do this and make them anniversary gifts to Jeff & myself? (One year, coming up next weekend)